Maxime stood tall and imposing as Kaia left the room. A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes as he turned to the audience, scanning their faces. Some vampires, sensing the imminent storm, began to edge toward the exits, but he froze them in place with a command that reverberated with authority.
"No one is leaving until I know what happened here."
Lady Tatiana, still seething from her earlier humiliation, opened her mouth to speak, but Maxime's fierce glare silenced her immediately. His gaze moved over the assembled vampires, finally settling on one at random.
"You," he pointed. "Speak."
The selected vampire glanced nervously between Maxime and Lady Tatiana. The room was tense, the air thick with anticipation. Tatiana was known for her influence, cunning and cruelty, having been a fix
